PART 5Exceptions and licences

Exception for acts done for purposes of national security or prevention of serious crime21

1

Where an act would, in the absence of this paragraph, be prohibited by regulation 9(2) (confidentiality) or any prohibition in Part 3 (Finance), that prohibition does not apply to the act if the act is one which a responsible officer has determined would be in the interests of—

a

national security, or

b

the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

2

Where, in the absence of this paragraph, a thing would be required to be done under or by virtue of a provision of Part 6 (Information and records), that requirement does not apply if a responsible officer has determined that not doing the thing in question would be in the interests of—

a

national security, or

b

the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

3

In this regulation “responsible officer” means a person in the service of the Crown or holding office under the Crown, acting in the course of that person’s duty.

4

Nothing in this regulation affects the application of a prohibition or requirement in a case where it would be incompatible with a UN obligation for the prohibition or requirement not to apply.